By Will Helms
Don’t worry, football is not over for the season as we have two spring leagues to watch, follow—and yes—bet on in 2023. While the first week of the season is typically the week we can find the most value, it’s different with spring leagues, particularly the XFL.
There was a strange lack of preseason information available from a league that has promised to embrace both Daily Fantasy and gambling, so I personally stayed away from Week 1, aside from a few smaller DFS lineups.
This week though, I’m ready to go and I’ve got a spread bet, a total and a small parlay I’m promoting.
Defenders +3 (-110) @ Vipers
Get this one as soon as possible, because it’s down to 2.5 on FanDuel. I’m tempted to take the Defenders on the moneyline as well against a Vipers team that didn’t look good enough last week to deserve a 3-point cushion this week.
The Defender defense is as staunch as it gets, holding a talented Sea Dragons offense to just 18 points last week. The Defenders got better as the game went on and showed the ability to get after the quarterback.
Viper quarterback Luis Perez had an up-and-down outing last week, scoring the year’s first touchdown, but also tossing a pair of pick sixes. This week, he goes up against a strong Defender defense that can really get after the quarterback. DC’s offense worked out some kinks last week and should be able to move the ball this week, unlike a Renegades offense that I’m not convinced is as good as people think it is.
Prediction: The Defenders play well on the road in a low-scoring affair, winning 18-16.
Battlehawks-Sea Dragons o36.5 (-110)
I’m higher than many on the Sea Dragons and a big part of that has to do with their offense. The Defenders were able to pressure them quite a bit last week, but I doubt the Battlehawk defense will be able to do the same.
More than anything, I think this should be a close game, and teams score more when forced to air it out and play aggressively. I’m always apprehensive taking the over in a spring football game, especially the joint-lowest total of the week, but I think the Battlehawks have figured out their offensive woes.
Ben DiNucci has NFL experience and the Sea Dragons are at home. I expect them to air it out early and play fast, which bodes well for the over. I don’t expect AJ McCarron to struggle as much early as he did last week, and the Battlehawks should score a few points as well.
Prediction: Sea Dragons win, 24-20, giving us plenty of extra room.
Parlay: Roughnecks ML + San Antonio ML (+133)
The Roughnecks keep becoming bigger and bigger favorites. After a week, Houston looks like the strongest team in the league, while the Renegades were lucky to escape with a win last week. Despite the loss last week, the Brahmas dominated for over 58 minutes.
Assuming their true talent level is abit more than what the final outcome suggested last week, the Brahmas should win over a Guardians team that didn’t show much a week ago.
If you want a piece of the action in every game on over the weekend, feel free to throw a teaser or ML favorite parlay on the two favorites in the Sunday games.
Prediction: Houston rolls while San Antonio wins in a closer one.
